good plan or not? supercharge in place of stroker

[challngd73]

I have gone back and forth over this and I think I am leaning towards getting a supercharger package with water injection from the supercharger store.  I was initialy going to stroke the motor...but after adding all the machine work costs, pulling the motor for the machine work...I figured i coluld get the same power for about the same price without the downtime and work of pulling the motor.
  My new plan includes going to fast xfi, ported stealth heads, blower cam and the supercharger system.  I wont be touching the lower end, but with talking to the supercharger store, they felt that the stock low compression of my 1972 440, and water injection, would all but eliminate detonation, and killing my motor.
  I still like the idea of stroking the motor, but I LOVE the whine of a supercharger and all that available hp/tq...I could always supercharge now and stroke later...any thoughts or opinions as to what the best plan is?  past experiences welcome.

[Topcat]

You never mentioned how old your engine is, condition it's in, it's piston types, i.e: forged, cast, H.U. ,
what cam profile, and does it mate well if you did put a supercharger on.

If the tech know everything about your engine from what you told him, then I would weigh out downtime if you did pull the engine to stroke it first vs. your budget.
 Versuses just the supercharger done now. Improved heads are something you might want to invest in also if you just go the supercharger route.

 IMO, I like to do thing just once. So if stroking it is your goal, pull it and start collecting everything you need. In summary, it really all comes down to what you would really like and what you can afford.

[challngd73]

I plan on getting a blower cam and getting ported stealth heads at the same time I put the supercharger system on.  The motor has about 10k on a stock rebuild.

[440mike]

prolly not a good idea on stock cast pistons? are you going to cut another keyway in the crank for the blower or just use the 1 stock keyway?
making 600 plus hp with a supercharger on a motor built for 250 hp, might not be a real good idea?

[The Cuda Guy]

I plan on getting a blower cam and getting ported stealth heads at the same time I put the supercharger system on.  The motor has about 10k on a stock rebuild.

If it were me, I would just do the stroker and the ported stealths.  There are many good kits out there offered by many vendors in many CID's.  I got mine unballanced for 1450.00, for a 493 CID (RB).  This included rings and berings ect.  the whole kit.  Diamond pistons, eagle rods and crank ect.  This was cheapest kit I could find and it offered quality parts too.  Just depends on what your looking for.

Don

[BB73Challenger]

I too have been thinking more HP, and the route I believe I will be taking is the stroker kit with good heads.

Yes supercharging is very cool, but you have to wonder am I going to stress out existing components as opposed to doing the stroker kit and knowing this is a power making combo that will last.

Heck, if it were just a matter of making easy power now, you could even weigh out just adding NOS.

Just my 2 cents here, but if you want to build a dependable power plant, either route should include an engine pull and evaluate all you components to make sure your set up will live a long and happy life.

[72hemi]

I'm planning going the supercharger route on my next engine build, mostly because I want big power but don't want a big block, aluminum heads or a stroker motor (I have my reasons, and there is no one out there that can change those). That being said I plan on doing a complete build with new Diamond or JE pistons, H-beam rods, etc. to make sure everything holds together.

[challngd73]

If it were me, I would just do the stroker and the ported stealths.  There are many good kits out there offered by many vendors in many CID's.  I got mine unballanced for 1450.00, for a 493 CID (RB).  This included rings and berings ect.  the whole kit.  Diamond pistons, eagle rods and crank ect.  This was cheapest kit I could find and it offered quality parts too.  Just depends on what your looking for.

Don

If you dont mind me asking, what did the machine work run?

[challngd73]

I'm planning going the supercharger route on my next engine build, mostly because I want big power but don't want a big block, aluminum heads or a stroker motor (I have my reasons, and there is no one out there that can change those). That being said I plan on doing a complete build with new Diamond or JE pistons, H-beam rods, etc. to make sure everything holds together.

Everyone takes different paths, just so long as you reach the goal.  The guy at the supercharger store was pretty adamant that the stock bottom end would be strong enough to handle the amount of boost he suggested.  The motor had been gone through fairly recently.  I guess if the motor blows up everyone can tell me i told you so next season!

[Oldschool]

Either way you go, you should build a stout foundation to hold the new horsepower and torque.  If you are gonna supercharge it, you are going to hit that bottom end with a LOT more force than it was built for. So, that said, if you are going to build a forged bottom end either way, then it comes down to preference to stroker grunt versus supercharger power.  I prefer N/A motors, but I highly respect the boosted ones.  Boost rocks in a different way than a big stroker.  I love the blower whine -- but I also love the thumping of a big cammed stroker.   

[challngd73]

Either way you go, you should build a stout foundation to hold the new horsepower and torque.  If you are gonna supercharge it, you are going to hit that bottom end with a LOT more force than it was built for. So, that said, if you are going to build a forged bottom end either way, then it comes down to preference to stroker grunt versus supercharger power.  I prefer N/A motors, but I highly respect the boosted ones.  Boost rocks in a different way than a big stroker.  I love the blower whine -- but I also love the thumping of a big cammed stroker.   

all great points.  gives me plenty to think about.  I love the thought of all motor, then I ride in my buddy's terminator, and damn that thing flies...

[aris_unlimited]

How much is this supercharger kit/install/tune going to cost you? I know you can get a 512 stroker kit for only $2k. Figure maybe another $2k for installation and such.

I got a guy that is going to stroke my 440 out to a 512 with at least 500 hp and 550 tq for about $5k. Guy is very well known around here as doing quality work and he is the one everybody recommends so I have no doubts as to his quality.

[Moparal]

If you dont mind me asking, what did the machine work run?

Line bore and install billet main caps and girdle 350.   bore , hone cam bearings, freeze plugs, 225 bucks or so, balance 175 bucks, deck block 125 bucks. Assembly not sure as of yet, hadnt decided

[challngd73]

How much is this supercharger kit/install/tune going to cost you? I know you can get a 512 stroker kit for only $2k. Figure maybe another $2k for installation and such.

I got a guy that is going to stroke my 440 out to a 512 with at least 500 hp and 550 tq for about $5k. Guy is very well known around here as doing quality work and he is the one everybody recommends so I have no doubts as to his quality.

Supercharger with water injection: $5700
Fast xfi kit: $2400
Ported Aluminum heads: $1900
Blower cam/valvetrain: $500
I will do the install.
good for around 600 horse.  supercharger system can support upwards of 850hp, but my planned fuel system is only good for a max of 600hp.

[challngd73]

Line bore and install billet main caps and girdle 350.   bore , hone cam bearings, freeze plugs, 225 bucks or so, balance 175 bucks, deck block 125 bucks. Assembly not sure as of yet, hadnt decided

lol....the machine work man ...